Automobile door clip for mounting window guides



Feb. 11, 1958 B. E. MALPASS AUTOMOBILE DOOR CLIP FOR MOUNTING WINDOW GUIDES Filed July 12, 1955 INVENTOR 6 M44 PASS United States aren't AUTOMOBILE DOOR CLIP FOR MOUNTING WINDOW GUIDES Burnice Edward Malpass, Pink Hill, N. C., assignor of one-fourth to William F. Simpson, one=eighth to Fitzhugh E. Wallace, Si'., and one-eighth to Fitzhugh E. Wallace, Jr., all of Kinston, N. C.

Application July 12, 1955, serialNo. 521,502 2 Claims. (Cl. 29644.5)

The present invention relates to automobile door clips and more particularly relates to an improved form of clip for mounting the windovs guides or channels in the door or other frames of an automobile.

Window guide channels contain felt or other like-strips in which the edges of the window glass slide up and down. These side frames or window guide channels act to cushion the window glass and also as weather-stripping. These window guide channels periodically have to be replaced in old or wrecked vehicles and the process by which they are replaced and attached is slow due to limitations on the only available type of holding device now on the market. The invention has for an object to improve upon this holding device or clip to the end that the process of application of window guide strips to door or other frame constructions may be simplified and speeded.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of attaching or holding clip which may be more readily applied to the window guide channel and which when in place will more effectively retain the channel in the clip.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved clip for the purpose stated in which the spring loading of the clip is, or may be, changed to they side of the clip rather than the bottom or base thereof to the end that such spring loading device may cooperate with the door frame construction in a'novel manner and to secure a firmer hold.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary isometric view with parts broken away and parts shown in section of a conventional form of window guide channel showing an application thereto of one form of the improved attaching or holding clip in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another form of the improved clip.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the door frame channel, the improved clip of Figure 2 and the conventional window guide channel showing one form of association of these elements.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a further modified form of the improved clip.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are also isometric views of still further modified forms of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates the base or bottom of the conventional window guide channel strip, which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and 11 and 12 represent the spaced side walls thereof having the usual form of slots 13 and 14 to promote flexibility in the channel strip for the purpose of enabling the same to be readily bent to'follow any particular con- 2,823,071 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 "ice 7 2 tour or curvature given by the body designers to the window frame.

At 15 and 16 are represented beaded or reinforced edges at the upper ends of the side walls 11 and 12, while 17' designates an inside fabric covering and 18 the outside fabric covering.

Within the channel strip and within the inside fabric covering 17 are. positioned a base cushion 19 and side cushions 20 and 21. These cushions or pads 19, 20 and 21 are made from felt or like material possessing some resiliency and weatherproofing characteristics. The edge of the window glass (not shown) is adapted to contact the intermediate portion of the base cushion or pad 19 while the sideor lateral cushions or pads 20, 21 embrace the sides of the window glass near the edges thereof, it being understood that the side or lateral cushions or pads 20, 21 are spaced apart to provide a slideway 22 in which the side edges of the glass may move up and down.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, a fragmentary section of the vehicle door or other frame is shown also in a channel form in which 23 designates the base or web of the channel. strip while 24 and 25 represent the side walls thereof; A cut-away portion 26 of one of the side walls, for instance the side wall 24, provides for the attachment of the clip as hereinafter described.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2 which illustrates a modified form of the Bowman clip now in use sold under the trade-mark E-Z Clip, 27 designates a base or bottom of the clip, and 28 and 29 represent side flanges or walls thereof which are bent up at substantially right angles from opposite side edges of the base 27, the clip being formed in one piece of sheet metal possessing some inherent resiliency. At the intermediate portion of the base or bottom 27 a spring tongue or clamp 30 is cut out on opposite sides and at one free end to clip or snap over an appropriate part of the base frame of the door, for instance over the web 23 of the door frame channel at its cut-away portion 26.

The commercial form of the clip as shown in Figure 2 is modified pursuant to the present'invention by providing prongs 31, 32 in the side flanges or walls 28 and 29 in such spaced apart relation that the prongs 31, 32 will come opposite slots 13 and 14 of the window guide channel whereby these prongs 31, 32 may enter the window guide channel from opposite sides thereof, penetrating the coverings 18 and 17 and also outer portions of the lateral felt strips 20, 21. These prongs 31, 32 may be of triangular or other form but their inner ends are preferably pointed or sharpened for more easy penetration. The prongs 31, 32 are shown as incised from the 'body and material of the .side flanges 28, 29 on two sides of such prongs with the triangles of the material bent inwardly and upwardly along their base lines so that their sharpened apex portions are presented inwardly. The side flanges 28 and 29 may be sprung or bent inwardly and outwardly in the act of attaching the clip to the window guide channel.

Referring more particularly to Figure 4, a modified form of the improved clip is illustrated in which 33 designates the base and 34, 35 the side flanges thereof, this clip also being preferably made integral from a single continuous piece of resilient sheet metal. In this form of the invention one or more prongs 36 of triangular or other form may be stamped and bent up from the base 33 or affixed thereto in any other manner. One of the flanges, for instance the flange 35, carries the novel form of spring loading device in which an extension of the upper edge of the wall or flange 35 is. rolled outwardly anddownwardlytea-provide the rolled edge 37 from resilient clamp adapted to be applied over a wall, for instance the wall 25 of the door channel 23. The outturned flange 38 presents a flaring mouth to the upper edge of the flange 25 while the constricted or crimped section 39, which is spaced from the wall 35 a lesser distance than the thickness of the Wall 25iwill be pried or expanded outwardly during the application of this clamp to the door structure wall 25, and in this action the roll 37 will provide a spring hinge, the inherent resiliency of the metal tending to close the constricted throat 39 on the wall 25 and thus to hold the clip tightly in place in the door structure.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5,.the base 33, side walls 34, 35, hinge roll 37, flange 38 and crimp 39 are all as illustrated in Figure 4,the distinguishing form of the invention over Figure14 residing in the location of the prongs 31in the side walls 34 and 35 in a manner similar to the illustration of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to Figure 7, the base of this still further modified form of the clip is designated at 33 and the side walls at 34 and 35 in which the prongs 31 are carried. The hinge roll 37 supports a central depending web 40 from which side spring leaves 41 and 42 extend in opposite directions. The spring leaves being made to assume divergent positions with reference to the plane of the web 40 and also with reference to the side wall 35'. The central web 40 and leaves 41, 42 as a unit may hinge about the roll 37 and/ or the leaves 41, 42 may themselves hinge individually about the lines of connection of these leaves with the central panel or web 40. The parts 37 40, 41 and 42 constitute a spring loading device for clamping the clip to an appropriate part of the framework of the door or other framework, as for instance, over the wall 25 of the frame structure 23, it being understood that the distance between the free edges of the leaves 41, 42 and the side wall 35' will be narrower than the thickness of the flange 25, whereby the act of inserting the members 40, 41 and 42 over and upon the outside of the wall 25 while the flange 35 fits upon the inside of the wall 25 will cause spreading of the parts 41, 42 and/or 40 with reference to wall 35 thus placing the spring loading device including the wall 35 under elastic tension causing the device to tend to firmly grip upon the wall 25 of the door frame.

Referring more particularly to Figure 6 which shows a further modified form of the improved clip, 33 represents the base and 34 and 35 the sides of the U-shaped clip of preferably one piece resilient material. Upstanding panels 43 and 43 side walls 34 and 35 and these panels carry lateral and outwardly sprung resilient leaves 44*, 44, 44 and 44 In this instance the panels and resilient leaves as well as the side walls 34 and 35 may all be fitted interiorly of v the door channel 23 so that the out-sprung leaves 44, 44 44 and 44 will impinge at their outer free ends against internal surfaces of the walls 24 and 25 of the door construction 23. This causes frictional binding between the spring leaves and the walls 24 and 25, it being understood that in the normally sprung condition of this form of clip, it will be necessary to slightly compress the side walls 34 and 35 together in order to enable the clip to be placed within the channel 23. Or it may only be necessary to force the resilient leaves inwardly until the same clear the side walls 24 and 25. In this form of clip the side walls 34 and 35 are preferably not erected at precise right angles to the plane of the base 33 but the side walls are preferably bent upwardly at an angle. somewhat less than normal so that in effect the side walls 34 and 35 diverge upwardly whereby the clip has to be squeezed t gether as t its side w lls in the act of inserting the same downwardly into the door frame channel 23.

are erected centrally above the v The clip currently in use resembles that illustrated in Figure 2 with the exception that the prongs 31 are in the base 27 instead of being in the side walls 28 and 29. Under the circumstances with the existing form of clip it is necessary to punch four holes in the base 10 of the window guide channel. In order not to damage the felt strips, this punching operation must be done at the present time by going through the inside of the window guide channel With an ice pick or other tool and punching the holes from the inside out. The clip at present used is then installed with the prongsentering the punched out holes and again the worker must go inside of the felt area and brad the inserted points of the prongs on the inside of the base 10 of the window guide channel. This is a laborious and detailed job.

In accordance with the present invention, and with the prongs 31 carried by the side walls 28 and 29 as shown in Figure 2, it becomes unnecessary to perforate the base 10 of the window guide channel. In this way advantage may be taken of the presence of the slots 13 and 14 in the side walls 11 and 12 of the window guide channel. Where the prongs 31 are in the side wall 28, 29 of the clip 27, such prongs 31, 32 are positioned to enter the internal space of the window guide channel and penetrate the covers 17, 18 and to some extent the lateral pads 20, 21 as shown in Figure 3. When so positioned the clip 27 may not be slid downwardly off the window guide channel and position of these prongs 31 is such that they need not be bradded or peened over. In this position the prongs 31 will also tend to hold the felt pads 19, 20 and 21 in a proper position at all times with reference to the slideway 22. This makes for a simple and speedy attachment of the clip to the window guide channel.

Figure 4 is intended to show that even with the old form of prong 36 in the base 33 of the clip, in which case it is necessary to perforate the base 16 of the window guide channel, the novel form of side securing spring clamp may be employed. When installed these side clips according to Figures 4, 5 and 7 slip over the edge of the door shell 'or wall 25 and are hidden by the garnish mold of the car.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that window guide channels extend down inside the door frames and where hidden inside the door longer and slightly different types of clips are used. However, these clips also may be utilized with the present invention to good effect.

Although I have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to me at this time, I reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a window glass channel strip, an attaching clip having a base and side flanges of resilient material adapted to embrace the strip, and spring loaded clamps formed on the side flanges and comprising spring leaves incised from the upper portions of the flanges and bent from central panel portions of the flanges in relatively divergent relation.

2. For use with a window glass channel strip having axially spaced apart openings therein and a cushion strip means therein, an attaching clip having a base and side flanges adapted to embrace the channel strip and the cushion strip. means, means on the clip adapted to extend through the openings in the channel strip and penetrate the cushion strip means to secure the channel strip, the cushion means strip, and the clip together as a unit, and spring loaded clamp means formed on the side flanges of the clip adapted to connect the unit to a part of the window frame and comprising spring leaves incised from the upper portions of the flanges and bent from central panel portions of the flanges in relatively divergent relation.

(References on following page) 5 References Cite l in the file of this patent 2,511,808 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,131 1,688,371 Bailey Oct. 23, 1928 2,232,810 Simpson Feb. 25, 1941 5 2,295,444 Woodward Sept. 8, 1942 1,089,701 2,341,597 Cotter -1 Feb. 15, 1944 473, 30 2,446,516 Bailey Aug. 10, 1948 723,3 7

6 Petri June 13, 1950 Poupitch Oct. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS France Oct. 6, 1954 Great Britain Oct. 21, 1937 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1952 

